Choosing a Bible for Children

Tips on choosing a Bible for children

Your children will probably go through four to six different Bibles between the day they’re born and the day they leave home. This is not only practical, since their reading skills, comprehension levels, and interests change, but it also encourages children to see that they are progressing in their knowledge of God.

In the past, choosing a Bible or Bible storybook for children was a relatively simple task because the choice was limited. Times have changed. Now there is a dizzying variety of Bible storybooks and regular Bibles to choose from. They all come with illustrations, study notes, and other special features. But which one is the best one for your child? Here are some general tips to help you make your choice:

Each of your children should have his or her own Bible. Owning a Bible shows them how important God’s Word is and how it should always be on hand as the practical guidebook for life.

Let your children have a say in choosing what type of Bible to buy. Ownership in this decision will increase their interest in reading it.

When your children are old enough to want a whole-text Bible, choose a translation that uses modern language. Some versions are deliberately made for children’s use. If you’re not familiar with the various modern translations, pick out a few verses from different parts of the Bible and compare how they read in different versions.

Finally, look for children’s and teens’ Bibles that contain the whole text of the Bible as well as additional materials to help your children understand and apply what they read. Choose a Bible with all or some of the following features: a simple concordance, explanatory notes in the text, introductions to each book of the Bible, maps of Bible lands, cross-references, and Bible facts or trivia.

Here are a few hints for choosing a bible storybook or a Bible by age group

Preschool: Buy a Bible storybook, with simple illustrations, that covers key Bible stories and has a small number of simple words per picture.

Beginning Readers: Choose a storybook that contains simple illustrations and more stories than a preschool storybook. It is best if beginning readers have a storybook that takes two pages or more to tell each story.

Grade Schoolers: Fewer pictures, more words is the key at this level. Make sure the illustrations are interesting and up-to-date. Simple Bible reference lists and an index are also good features to look for at this age level.